MANILA, Philippines – The death toll from Tropical Storm Juaning (international codename: Nock-Ten) climbed to 20 as nine others remained missing, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Wednesday.
A family of five was confirmed dead when a landslide hit their house in Camarines Norte early Wednesday, Office of Civil Defense Region 5 Director Rafaelito Alejandro IV said.
In a text message sent to members of the media, Alejandro said the landslide happened at the home of the Casero family around 1 a.m. Wednesday in Barangay (village) Sta Rosa Norte, Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte, one of the affected provinces.
Alejandro identified the victims as Alfredo Casero, 62, Ofelia Casero, 56, Richard Casero, 23, Marian Casero, 18 and one year old Edgar Casero. Their remains have been taken to a funeral parlor, Alejandro said.
Cristy de Mesa, 13 of Barangay (village) Sto. Nino in Mulanay, Quezon, drowned, the NDRRMC reported earlier on Wednesday.
The NDRRMC reported earlier in the day that the seven other casualties were from Albay, two in Catanduanes, two in Cavite and one each from Camarines Sur, Marinduque and Iloilo.
Meanwhile, three persons were reported missing in Albay, two from Perez, Quezon, two in Catanduanes and one each in Lucena City and 1 in Camarines Norte.
Meanwhile, 31 others were injured although they have yet to be identified.
The NDRRMC also estimated the number of affected population at 129,576 families or 645,137 persons. Most of the affected population were from Camarines Sur and Albay. Flooding incidents were monitored in several villages in Daraga, Polangui, Ligao City, Oas and Legaspi City all in Albay, Nabua, Baao, Bato, Buhi, Pasacao, Pamplona, Iriga City and Naga City all in Camarines Sur.
Flooding incidents also occurred in several villages in San Francisco, Mulanay and Lopez all in Quezon province.
Heavy rains also triggered landslides in Sitio (sub-village) Caginsa, Barangay (village) Casay, San Francisco in Quezon province. In Region 5, landslides also occurred in the towns of Presentacion, Tinambac, Labawan, Buhi, Camangahan, Balatan all in Camarines Sur; Barangay Darao, Caramoan town in Catanduanes and; Gabon town in Polangui Albay.
Nock-ten, a Laotian word for bird, is the 10th of about 21 typhoons and storms expected to lash the Philippines this year, according to an Associated Press report.
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